The percentage of overexploited stocks in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea has dropped below 60% for the first time, following a declining trend that began a decade ago, according to a report released today.

A Concern

While overfishing remains a concern, The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2023 (SoMFi 2023) report records a 15% decrease in this figure over the past year, an improvement consistent with a continuous reduction in fishing pressure, which has decreased by 31% since 2012.

The report is the flagship publication of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). For the first time, this year's report includes data on the marine aquaculture sector in the region.

Fishing and marine aquaculture generate revenues of over USD 20 billion.

The GFCM, a regional fisheries management organization, is responsible for wild-capture fisheries and marine and brackish aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Fishing and aquaculture together produced nearly 2 million tonnes of seafood in 2021, according to figures from SoMFi 2023.

Economically, both have played an equally important role, generating revenues of over USD 20 billion and supporting 700,000 jobs along the value chain.

"This special edition of SoMFi describes a comprehensive picture of this vital sector, reinforcing how important it is for livelihoods, food security, and nutrition in our region," said the GFCM Executive Secretary, Miguel Bernal.

"We have worked intensively with countries and their experts to collect and aggregate the highest quality data, and that is what makes SoMFi a key tool to support decision-making and monitor progress towards achieving sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Seas," he added.

Positive Trends, But Sector Remains Under Stress

Although overexploitation of fish stocks has decreased significantly, fishing pressure in the Mediterranean and Black Seas is still twice the level considered sustainable. However, the report also demonstrates that the continued focus of the GFCM on expanding management plans and technical and spatial measures is yielding positive results for key commercial species.

European hake stocks in the Mediterranean, Black Sea turbot, and common sole in the Adriatic Sea, all covered by dedicated management plans, have shown a striking reduction in overfishing, some of them already showing signs of biomass rebuilding.

Some stocks under management plans show a greater reduction than the average fishing pressure. Notable examples include a 77% reduction for common sole in the Adriatic Sea, which has now reached sustainable exploitation rates, and a 73% reduction for Black Sea turbot.

2030 Strategy

Guided by its 2030 Strategy and incorporating the FAO's vision for blue transformation, the GFCM is implementing 10 multiannual management plans involving nearly 7,000 vessels and protecting sensitive species and vulnerable marine ecosystems, including deep-sea corals, as well as essential fish habitats such as spawning and nursery areas, with ten restricted fishing areas covering over 1.75 million square kilometers in the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Throughout the region, catches are still largely dominated by small pelagic fish, mainly European anchovy and sardines. In the Mediterranean, 55 species account for 90% of the catch, while in the Black Sea only five species represent the same proportion.

Overall levels of capture fisheries production have remained stable in recent years, with Turkey, followed by Italy and Tunisia, bringing in the most landings.

Small-scale vessels represent the vast majority of the fishing fleet and provide over half of total employment. Although they account for only about 15% of catches, these vessels bring in nearly 30% of total revenues.

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector

SoMFi reports that unlike capture fishing, the marine aquaculture sector in the region is experiencing significant growth. Marine and brackish aquaculture production has nearly doubled in the past decade, increasing by 91.3%, with revenues also rising by 74.5%.

The three main production methods used in the region are sea cages, ponds, and suspended culture, while the most commonly cultivated species are gilthead seabream, European seabass, and Mediterranean mussels.

Turkey, Egypt, and Greece are, in that order, the top three regional producers, accounting for 71% of the total volume.

This special edition of SoMFi comes just a year after the previous SoMFi. It communicates its findings in a condensed format and sets the series on a new biennial cycle, with the next release scheduled for 2025. (Photo: Freepik)